Bellybutton, Breathe, Banana!

Yesterday was an unforgettable day for both Jon and me which is exactly what I wanted for Jon's big 30th birthday. Every year we do something a little wild and crazy on his birthday. The first year we did aerial tricks in an open cockpit bi-plane. The next year we went paragliding at the Point of the Mountain. Jon then enjoyed a glide plane ride over Heber Valley for birthday 29. This year, though, was the mother of adventures up to this point. SKYDIVING!!!

I cannot begin to describe the feeling of jumping out of a plane. Actually, I can't describe the thoughts that were circling through my head as the plane leveled at the jumping altitude of 2.5 miles above the earth. As my sweet foreign Jump Master strapped me securely to his chest, I realized that only four little clips connected me to my life, to my children, to my future. What was I doing!?! Clouds encircled the plane and I could no longer see the distant land below. My heart was pounding a rapid beat that lulled me into a trance... or could it be that my mind was going into overload at the fact that I was about to hurl my body out of an airplane and free fall at 120+ miles an hour toward the earth with only one simple pull of a cord and a piece of material to save me from becoming a thing of the past. The simple plastic door was opened and a rush of cold air circled my quivering body. "Okay! Scoot! Scoot! Feet on the step! Toes over the edge. Head back! Ready! Set..." And that was that. No time to think. No time to change my mind. It took only a matter of two seconds from the time I was safely seated in an airplane to the time my breath was being sucked out of my lungs by the shear speed of falling through the dense clouds. Put your bellybutton out, breathe through your teeth, bend your back. I tried to recall the training video and to jump with perfect technique. "Just relax and enjoy." The Jump Master's words kept calling to me. So, after a few seconds of adjusting to the fact that the next minute would determine if I would spend the night putting together Jon's surprise party or if it would be spent in intensive care, I decided to make the most of it. I looked around at the beautiful scenery shooting closer and closer every second. I breathed in the fresh air and felt its crispness on my face. I enjoyed it! Immensely! And, it was about the time that I reached down and pulled the parachute cord that I realized that I am a true adrenaline junkie!
Now, you ask, what is in store for next year? What is bigger and better than skydiving? I have just two words... Base Jumping!!!Happy Birthday, Angel! I hope you had an unforgettable day! I enjoyed every minute spent with you and I can't wait for all of the adventures to come. Thank you for helping to make my life unforgettable and exciting. "What is the cure for boredom... ADVENTURE!!!" I love you!!!